Brazilian singer Ney Matogrosso has announced a 10-date concert tour to celebrate his career after the success of the biographical film Homem com H attracted a new audience of children and teenage fans to his live shows.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the 85 anos de Ousadia tour, the 85-year-old musician explained that his audience has always been a diverse mix of generations, but the release of the movie sparked a noticeable arrival of younger followers. He said that following the film, numerous teenagers and young children began attending his concerts.
Matogrosso recalled a specific moment when three or four young children approached him at his concerts to say they knew one of his songs. He said he expected them to perform his famous track O Vira, but they instead sang Fala, a choice he said pleased him greatly.
Both songs date back to the 1970s, when Matogrosso gained national fame as the lead vocalist of Secos e Molhados, an influential Brazilian glam rock and MPB band. Known for theatrical makeup, costume changes, and Matogrosso's distinctive countertenor vocal range, the group left a lasting mark on Brazilian popular music.
Secos e Molhados Face Paint
The veteran singer observed that an increasing number of concertgoers are now showing up to his performances with their faces painted in the iconic style of Secos e Molhados. He noted that this fan behavior did not happen in previous years, attributing the trend directly to the impact of the biopic.
In Homem com H, actor Jesuíta Barbosa stars as Matogrosso, portraying his musical beginnings in the 1970s when the singer was considered a boundary-pushing transgressor for his androgynous stage presence. The biographical film, which also features actors Bruna Montaleone, Julio Reis, and Hermila Guedes, is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
The title of the film references Homem com H, one of Matogrosso's signature songs originally released in 1981, which solidified his reputation as one of the most dynamic performers in South American music history.
Photoshoot with David LaChapelle
The popularity of the biographical film also caught the attention of American photographer David LaChapelle. After watching and admiring Homem com H, LaChapelle agreed to photograph Matogrosso for the promotional images of his celebratory tour, making Matogrosso the first Brazilian artist to be photographed by the icon.
LaChapelle, who lives a reclusive life in Hawaii, traveled to Rio de Janeiro to conduct the photo session in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood. During the shoot in the historic botanical garden, Matogrosso recalled that a local child who was passing through the grounds stopped to invite the singer to a birthday party.
Jardim Botânico is a famous district in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, known for its lush tropical vegetation and historic 19th-century palm avenues. LaChapelle is globally recognized for his hyper-stylized, vibrant celebrity portraiture, having photographed major figures across international pop culture.
Matogrosso will embark on his ten tour dates to mark eight and a half decades of music, presenting his repertoire to both longtime supporters and the new generation of fans introduced to his work through the screen.
